Prabhakar Subramaniam

Statutory Warning - Poem by Prabhakar Subramaniam

The ad carriedA statutory warning'Watching this Can be injuriousTo your health'Yet we ignored itCourting slow deathInhaling smoke-wrapped temptationsSecond by secondBeat by beatThinking someday it could be usThis side of the screenNo more the one coveting, chasing, sighingBut being the one coveted, chased and sighed overPointed at, envied, imitatedFinally, knowing there was no more arrivingPerhaps, wishing there had been no arriving.